Covidien has enrolled first patients in its prospective, multi-center, non-randomized Durability Iliac and Visibility Iliac studies.

Both the studies are designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of Covidien’s stent systems which are used to treat common and/or external iliac arteries diseases.

The Durability Iliac study will assess the Protege EverFlex Self-Expanding Stent System and the Protege GPS Self-Expanding Nitinol Stent and Delivery Technology.

The Visibility Iliac study will assess the Visi-Pro Balloon Expandable Stent System.

The Visi-Pro Protege EverFlex and Protege GPS stents are used as palliative treatment for malignant neoplasms in the biliary tree.

Each study will enroll 75 patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) at up to 20 sites in Europe and the US.

The studies are investigated at Mount Sinai School of Medicine by Peter Faries and John Rundback of Holy Name Medical Center.